NCJ Number
68022
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM OF SACRAMENTO, CALIF., WHICH HAS PRODUCED A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATE OF RECIDIVISM, IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
SACRAMENTO'S COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM (601 PROGRAM) WAS BEGUN WITH STATUS OFFENDERS IN 1970 AND BEGAN TAKING JUVENILES ACCUSED OF MINOR CRIMES IN 1972. ITS EFFECTS AND SUCCESSES ARE MEASURED AGAINST AN ADJUDICATED CONTROL GROUP. THE 601 PROGRAM OFFERS IMMEDIATE, INTENSIVE COUNSELING FOR OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES; TEMPORARY PLACEMENT FOR JUVENILES UNABLE TO RETURN HOME; CRISIS INTERVENTION; COMPLETE AVOIDANCE OF COURT PROCESSES; AND SPECIAL TRAINING FOR ITS STAFF. CASES ARE HANDLED BY 601 4 DAYS A WEEK; JUVENILES COMMITTING THEIR OFFENSES ON 601 PROJECT DAYS ARE REFERRED TO 601 RATHER THAN THE COURT. FAMILIES INVOLVED RECEIVE UP TO FIVE SESSIONS OF COUNSELING. DURING ITS FIRST 9 MONTHS, 601 HANDLED 803 JUVENILES AND OBSERVED A CONTROL GROUP OF 558 (THE CONTROL GROUP CONSISTED OF CASES THAT MET THE PROJECT CRITERIA). THE GOALS WERE TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND COURT REFERRALS. DURING THE FIRST YEAR, COURT REFERRALS FOR JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS FELL OVER 80 PERCENT, BUT DETERMINING THE EFFECT OF 601 ON RECIDIVISM WAS DIFFICULT. ALTHOUGH THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR 601 PROJECT YOUTH WAS 46 PERCENT AND 54 PERCENT FOR ADJUDICATED YOUTH AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF COURT OR REFERRAL, RESULTS INDICATE THAT 601'S IMPACT WILL BE REDUCED OVER TIME. WHETHER HELP IS MOST BENEFICIAL FOR A YOUTH AT THE CRISIS STAGE (WHEN HE HAS BEEN APPREHENDED) HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN. HOWEVER, RECIDIVISM RESULTS FOR PROJECT YOUTH HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THOSE FOR CONTROL YOUTH AFTER A 12-MONTH FOLLOWUP. IN ADDITION, FAMILY CRISIS COUNSELING APPEARS AN ATTRACTIVE PROSPECT, NOT ONLY FOR REDUCING RECIDIVISM, BUT ALSO FOR HELPING JUVENILES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO LEARN TO COMMUNICATE BETTER.